Sports has a funny way of bringing people from different backgrounds and cultures together. That’s especially true of the World Baseball Classic. But what happened after Japan played the Czech Republic on Saturday doesn’t happen often, at least outside of Japan.
In a 10-2 victory over the Czech Republic, Japanese phenom Roki Sasaki topped 100 mph over 20 times. The 21-year-old allowed just two hits over 3 2/3 innings, striking out eight. But that’s not the whole story.
One of those 21 pitches hit the Czech Republic’s William Escala, who was withering in pain after being plunked by a 101.9 mph pitch. Escala stayed in the game after being drilled in his right leg. It’s an unfortunate part of the game, but the young outfielder managed to avoid an injury.
Imagine getting blown in the leg by 101.9 mph fastball… and staying in the game
That Willie Escala is a tough kid! #CzechIN #baseballczech pic.twitter.com/GgH7uldfjb — BaseballCzech (@BaseballCzech) March 11, 2023
Two days later, Sasaki met with Escala outside the Czech Republic team hotel in Tokyo on Monday. He was following the Japanese tradition of giving a gift after hitting a batter and presented Escala with two bags filled with Japanese candy.
“That’s part of the game and it does happen, you know when people get hit,” Escala said via MLB.com, “So, it was really a class act for him to come out and just apologize and make sure that I was good.”
“He gave me some goodies, and a bunch of different candies and stuff like that,” Escala added. “And then I asked him if he could sign the ball as a memory for me. Something I will keep. Very cool. Something I’ll cherish and never forget.”
“That was a wow moment,” Czech captain Petr Zyma told MLB.com. “The Japanese culture never stops to amaze me each day we are here. They once again took it to another level. As a superstar that Roki is, he took his time to come to the bus, meet Escala, send us a bunch of candy and sign a ball for Willie. It was a huge sign of respect.”
[MLB.com; WBC Baseball on Twitter]
About Sam Neumann
Since the beginning of 2023, Sam has been a staff writer for Awful Announcing and The Comeback. A 2021 graduate of Temple University, Sam is a Charlotte native, who currently calls Greenville, South Carolina his home. He also has a love/hate relationship with the New York Mets and Jets.